Here are the Best Places to Go Shopping in Central Massachusetts

While Boston has some great stores and shops, there’s no need to drive that far to go shopping. Whether you’re looking for an upscale, day-long shopping experience or just to pick up some sweaters as we head into fall, you’ll find it nearby. Here’s where to head if you want to go shopping in central Massachusetts.

The ‘Golden Triangle’ of Central Massachusetts Shopping

If you’re a big shopper and didn’t already know this, you’ll be thrilled to learn the Massachusetts is home to what is called the “Golden Triangle” of retail shopping. It’s the second-largest shopping district in New England, trailing only behind Boston’s Downtown Crossing.

Natick Mall (1245 Worcester St., Natick, MA 01760), with 250+ stores, has more stores than any other mall in New England. It’s also the central place to find high-end department stores, if those are in your budget. Box stores at Natick Mall include Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor.

Across the street from Natick Mall, you’ll find strip malls all along Worcester Street hosting stores of all sorts, from maternity clothing retailers to pet stores. There are also some big box stores — such as Dick’s Sporting Goods — as well as more than a half-dozen restaurants. If you don’t take advantage of Natick Mall’s many dining options, you shouldn’t have trouble finding lunch across the street.

Shopper’s World (1 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA) is just down the street from Natick Mall. When Shopper’s World opened, it was the first open-air shopping mall east of the Mississippi River. Shoppers World and Natick Mall are the anchors of central Massachusetts’ Golden Triangle.

The outdoor mall is home to Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Kohl’s, World Market and much more. If the upscale shops at Natick Mall were out of your budget, find a better deal here at Nordstrom Rack. When you’re done, consider ending the day by catching a movie at the AMC theater.

Other Shopping Malls Near Westborough

They’re no Natick Mall, but there are a handful of other shopping malls near Westborough worth visiting. They include:

Northborough Crossing ( 9012 Shops Way, Northborough, MA) is about halfway between Westborough and Northborough. It’s home to Kohl’s, PetSmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods and more. Here you’ll also find Massachusetts’ first Wegmans, one of the nation’s best grocery stores — as evidenced by the fact that it attracted 25,000 shoppers the day it opened a few years back.

Stroll Through Downtown Worcester

Is the shopping mall not your thing?

Well, luckily downtown Worcester’s business district is really taking off. It’s great to see so many small businesses full of unique character, such as the clothing store The Hidden Jewel or framer/art shop The Prints and the Potter. One of the coolest things happening in downtown retail is the Crompton Collective, an eclectic group of boutique business owners who operate out of a former factory. Be sure to check them out.

Central Massachusetts has so much to offer. The next time you head out shopping, consider one of these options. They’re much closer than a day trip to central Boston. We love Boston, but we don’t always like shopping among huge crowds of tourists.

Parc Westborough is an upscale apartment community in Westborough, MA, centrally located to all these great shopping options and much, much more. Schedule a tour online to come see what we have to offer.